Russell Crashes, McLaren Collides: Max Verstappen Survives Singapore Chaos

Max Verstappen won the Singapore Grand Prix sprint after George Russell crashed out and McLaren team-mates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri collided on the final lap, with Lewis Hamilton finishing second and Charles Leclerc completing the podium.

The wet-to-dry conditions made for a chaotic race, which began behind the safety car after concerns over spray and grip. Russell initially surged past Verstappen at Turn 1, while Hamilton gained three places to move into third, but the Mercedes driver spun at the end of the opening lap and hit the barriers, bringing out the safety car.

Verstappen took advantage of Russell's retirement to move into the lead and held off Hamilton through the closing stages. Hamilton set the fastest lap on lap 18 and reduced the gap, but finished 2.591 seconds behind the Red Bull driver.

Russell Crashes Out as Verstappen Takes Control

Russell's race ended early after his Mercedes lost traction with the right-rear tyre still on the wet kerb, sending him into the barrier. The incident left him out of the sprint and triggered a safety car period.

The race had already faced uncertainty before the start, with the field completing formation laps behind the safety car because of wet conditions, particularly around Turns 1, 2 and 3. Drivers started on intermediate tyres, with the track drying unevenly across the circuit.

Once racing resumed on lap six, Verstappen maintained control at the front. Hamilton remained within striking distance, while Leclerc initially held third ahead of the McLarens.

Hamilton Closes In, but Verstappen Holds Firm

Verstappen gradually extended his advantage over Hamilton as the race progressed, pulling out a second on lap 12 and adding further time on the following lap.

Hamilton responded late in the sprint, setting the fastest lap on lap 18 and gaining around a second over two laps. However, the Ferrari driver could not close the gap sufficiently before the chequered flag, finishing 2.591 seconds behind Verstappen.

Leclerc finished third, with Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli fourth, 0.367 seconds behind the Ferrari. Oliver Bearman, Nico Hulkenberg and Norris completed the top eight before the McLaren collision reshuffled the order.

Norris and Piastri Collide on the Final Lap

The biggest late drama came when Norris attempted to pass Piastri on the inside into Turn 5. The McLaren drivers made contact and spun, compromising both their races.

Norris dropped to eighth, while Piastri fell to 14th. The incident also allowed Leclerc to retain third place, with Antonelli moving into contention for the podium during the closing laps.

Norris apologised to the team over the radio but defended his move, saying he had run out of space at the apex while insisting he had been alongside Piastri.

The collision is likely to raise questions within McLaren, with team principal Andrea Stella facing a difficult debrief after the two drivers lost valuable positions in the final moments.

Multiple Retirements Mark Chaotic Sprint

The sprint was also marked by a series of incidents and retirements. Isack Hadjar stopped because of a power-unit issue, while Franco Colapinto also pulled off the track. Lance Stroll abandoned his car after an incident with Sergio Perez at Turn 16, and Valtteri Bottas and Gabriel Bortoleto were also out following a collision involving Alex Albon.

Albon later received instructions to retire his damaged Williams. The stewards were also set to investigate several incidents, including those involving Arvid Lindblad, Stroll and Perez, while Hamilton was under investigation for a possible yellow-flag infringement.

The FIA subsequently announced that the start of qualifying would be delayed, with a revised schedule to be issued.

Verstappen emerged from the chaotic sprint with the victory, while Hamilton's late pace offered encouragement for Ferrari. For McLaren, however, the final-lap collision between Norris and Piastri became the defining moment of a race that had already delivered plenty of drama.